How Do I Convert Garage Floor Plans?

An unused garage floor plan can be converted into a variety of useful spaces.

A garage can easily be converted into an additional room or other functional area for your home. An attached garage is already part of the house and the floor plan can be opened up to a family room, extra bedroom or anything else your family may need. A garage that is not attached may be close enough to the existing house to convert to an extra room, plus giving additional room from the area that attaches.

Things You'll Need

• Grid paper
• Measuring tape
• Pencils

Instructions

1. Draw the existing garage floor plan on grid paper with each grid square equaling one foot. Include doors, windows, water and heating sources.

2. Decide what the new use of the garage space will be. On a new grid paper, pencil in other ideas that will fit this existing space.

3. Add features that need water sources and drains, like a bathroom or a kitchen, to the grid paper.

4. Plan to remove the garage door and extra hardware. Rebuild this opening with a new wall. Either open a new doorway to the new floor plan or add supporting beams and open the space to the old part of the house completely.

5. Convert the new space created when attaching a garage for a hallway, closet, new laundry room, pantry or mudroom. A well-designed narrow space will be welcomed for a storage area.

6. Plan to clean any toxic chemical spills from the garage floor before covering with new flooring.

Tips & Warnings

• Check your foundation and original footers for structural strength. It may be possible to build a room above the garage for an apartment. It may be possible to dig out a basement below the garage.

References

• Home Addion Plus: A Garage Conversion starts with a Garage Conversion Plan by Mark J. Donovan